With an historic election on the horizon, issues around the role of government and the importance of free speech are more pressing than ever. Questions about the power of politicians, the privacy of the citizenry, voter disenfranchisement, civil liberties and the ability to enact change through protest are all potent subjects for recent documentary and fiction films. In this compelling series, the Film Society presents a range of films throughout the school year covering various angles and stories related to these topics, with filmmakers and special guests in attendance to engage students in post-screening discussions. Teachers will also be provided with study guides to help prepare students in advance and provide follow-up questions, activities and resources to help integrate each film’s content into their classroom.

All our programs are designed to be interactive experiences rather than passive viewings, so students are expected to come prepared to ask questions of filmmakers and special guests and to participate in post-film discussions and Q&A.

Upcoming Events

Special Double Bill
Presented by the San Francisco Film Society Education Program in partnership with the Marin School Filmbridge Program and the de Young Museum

The Third Monday in October
Directed by Vanessa Roth (USA 2006, 91 min)
Vanessa Roth in person
9:30 am, Wednesday, October 15, de Young Museum, San Francisco
Fall 2004. Bush and Kerry are busy debating Iraq and the economy, but for 11 presidential hopefuls from three states, junk food and bathroom stalls are the issues of import in the elections for middle school student government. Election meets Spellbound in this engaging exposé of the Future Politicos of America. At Francisco Middle School in San Francisco, where the student population is mostly Asian immigrant and the torn textbooks are rejects from other schools, candidates Mick and Jenny are full of hope, tempered ambition and awkward adolescence but woefully lacking the support systems they need to truly succeed. At Hall Middle School in affluent Marin County, where parents engage their kids in mock debates and teachers coach candidates in good speechwriting, opinionated, Bush-loving William is up against incumbent “Student Action Man” Sam and pretty blond Katie Kane. In Atlanta, the cutthroat political process tests the friendship of three African American cheerleaders running against each other, while at an Austin, Texas private school, self-proclaimed politically obsessed dynamo Sam seems rested and ready to take on the U.S. Senate rather than just his 13-year-old underdog opponent, Dustin. Against the backdrop of the concurrent Bush-Kerry election battle, The Third Monday in October is an enthralling whistle-stop tour of budding politicians with similar visions of governmental grandeur. http://www.thirdmondayinoctober.com
Suggested subject areas: African American Studies, History, Peer Issues, Political Science, Social Studies. Grades 6–12.

Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election
12:30 pm, Wednesday, October 15, de Young Museum, San Francisco
Directed by Richard Ray Pérez, Joan Sekler (USA 2004, XX min)
Director Joan Sekler in person
Unprecedented is the riveting story about the battle for the presidency in Florida and the undermining of democracy in America. Filmmakers Richard Ray Pérez and Joan Sekler examine modern America's most controversial political contest: the election of George W. Bush. What emerges is a disturbing picture of an election marred by suspicious irregularities, electoral injustices and sinister voter purges in a state governed by the winning candidate's brother. The film highlights those on the front lines, including the African Americans who were turned away from the polling booths for various reasons. Unprecedented is a cautionary tale, warning us that we must insist our elections be conducted in a manner above reproach, that all legitimate voters may exercise their franchise and that all legal votes must be counted. Suggested subject areas: African American Studies, History, Peer Issues, Political Science, Social Studies. Grades 9–12.

Secrecy
Directed by Peter Galison (USA 2007, 85 mins)                       
12:00 noon, Friday, October 24, Landmark’s Opera Plaza Cinema, San Francisco
In today’s wired world most of us enjoy the luxury of free-flowing information 24 hours a day. So why does the U.S. government spend more time and money than ever before making sure we don’t have access to certain information? The seduction and power of secrecy is at the core of this provocative documentary from Robb Moss and Peter Galison. As the film focuses on journalists, lawyers and government officials who have spent their careers debating who should have access to crucial government data, the discussion raises important questions. Are secrets necessary for our national security? Is an informed American public the best way to fight terrorism? Where does the line exist between public safety and civil liberties? And, if secrets are necessary, who gets to know? Secrecy tactfully provides examples and insights that emphasize the pros and cons of confidentiality, while tracing the history of government secrecy. From World War II and the creation of the atom bomb through 9/11 and recent abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, we see the role information management has played in some of this country’s biggest triumphs and tragedies. Secrecy combines credible talking head interviews and real-world footage with stylized animation, pertinent art pieces and expressive music to create a layered, thought-provoking narrative. Note: mild profanity. Suggested subject areas: American History, Journalism, Political Science, Social Studies, World Affairs. Grades 10–12.